"Where's Miss Channing?"
"She's there, in grandpapa's room, waiting to finish the curtain I tore."
Away went Roland, casting thought to the winds in the prospect of seeing Annabel at last, and burst into Mr. Greatorex's room, after giving a smart knock at the door. The wonder was that he knocked at all. Annabel was alone mending the crimson silk curtain of the lower bookcase. Jane, dashing it open to look after some book, had torn the curtain woefully; so Miss Channing took it from its place and set to work to repair it. To be thus unceremoniously invaded brought a flush to her cheeks--perhaps she could not have told why--and Roland saw that her eyes were red and heavy. Sitting at the table, near the lamp, she went on quietly with her work.
"Where's old Greatorex?" demanded Roland. "I thought he was here."
"Mr. Greatorex is gone into his consulting-room. Some one came to see him."
Down sat Roland on the other side of the table; and, as a preliminary to proceedings, pulled his whiskers and took a long stare right into the young lady's face.
"I say, Annabel, why are you not at the party tonight?"
"I don't always care to go in. Mrs. Greatorex gives so many parties."
"Well, I came to it only for one purpose; and that was to see you. I should not have bothered to dress myself for anybody else. Hamish and his wife are there."
"I did not feel very well this evening."